Ore washer and separator.



No. 659,8!3. Patented Oct. 16, I900. E. w. EATON. 0B5 WASHER ANDSEPABATOR.

(Application fil d Jan. 31, 19OOJ (no Model.)

llnrrnn Starts ETHAN \V. EATON, OF SOOORRO, TERRITORY OF NEWV MEXICO.

ORE WASHER AND SEPARATQIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,813, dated October16, 1900.

Application filed January 31, 1900- Serial No. 3,510. (No model.)

To Mi, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ETHAN WV. EATON, a resident of Socorro, in thecounty of Socorro and Territory of New Mexico, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Ore W'ashers and Separators; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to ore washers and concentrators, and has for itsobjects to simplify such apparatus, cheapen their construction, andincrease their eiiiciency.

The invention consists in the construction hereinafter described andpointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are rear and front endelevations of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a reduced plan of the apparatus.Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectionon line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a broken side view, partly in section,of one of the hollow stirrers. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of amodified tank.

Numeral 1 denotes a' frame supporting a tank 2, preferably of the formillustrated.

3 denotes a hollow rocking vessel or cylinder, closed except at inlet 4,whereby it is adapted to be connected to a flexible, jointed, or otherWater-supply pipe. 5 denotes gudgeons fixed to the cylinder-heads, and 6represents bearings for the same. To this rocking cylinder are securednumerous pulp-stirring arms 7, arranged substantially as shown.

8 denotes hollow arms whereby water delivered under pressure intocylinder 3 is discharged under the pulp to agitate the lower part of thecontents of the tank. These hollow stirrers are preferably bent at theirlower ends toward the front of thetank at 8, as indicated in Figs. 6 and'7, their discharge ends being reduced in size to increase the effect ofthe water, whereby concentrates are forced toward discharge-opening 12.

9 denotes a series of partitions extending from near the top of the tankdownwardly and below an overflow or outlet 10. By these partitionsdirect flow of pulp or water to said outlet is prevented, as everythingmust pass below them. The overflow-opening is regulable by means of asliding gate 11, which can be adjusted to different levels, as differentmaterials may require for the most successful separation of values fromthe gangue. Near the front of the tank is an opening 12,regulable bymeans of a gate 13 for the continuous or interval discharge of the heavyconcentrates that gravitate to the bottom of the tank and toward saidoutlet.

15 denotes an opening closed with mica, glass, or other transparentmaterial to permit inspection of the character and condition of thecontents of the lower part of the tank.

Any convenient or preferred means for charging fine material to bewashed and separated into the front end of the tank may be employed, andfurther description is unnecessary.

The cylinder 3 may be suitably rocked by any convenient means. Asillustrated an arm 15, fixed to the cylinder, is connected by a rod 16eccentrically to a wheel 17 on a shaft 18, driven by a belt 19, whichdrives pulley 20, shaft 21, and cone-pulleys 22 and 24. An idle or loosepulley is denoted by 25.

In Fig. 7 is shown a modified form of tank 2, in which thewaste-discharge end 10 is entirely open and on a higher plane than theconcentrate-discharge 12, the bottom of the tank gradually slopingbetween these openings. Ithas also been found advisable in workingcertain ores to use scraper-plates 26, which may be secured temporarilyor permanently to two or more of the pulp-stirring arms 7 and arrangedlongitudinally or diagonally of the tank.

The invention is not limited to particular dimensions, and these may bevaried indefinitely; but a length of six feet and a horizontal diameterof two feet for the tank and a diameter of four or five inches for therocking cylinder 3 are suitable.

In operation all the material charged is compelled to pass under thepartitions and is thoroughly saturated and diluted with water. The watercharging pipes extending downward a suitable distance have each a finedelivery-passage, preferably turned toward the front orconcentrate-discharge end of the tank. These pipes are carried back andforth transversely by the rocking cylinder. By this means, cooperatingwith the lingers 7, the sediment is agitated in manner to facilitateseparation by gravity or flotation of the heavier and valuable partsfrom the gangue or worthless and lighter parts of the pulp and themoving of heavier parts toward front or concentrate-discharge end. Ifany fine particles of the heavier and valuable substance or substancesremain entangled with the lighter worthless portions and are therebyfloated toward the ou'tlet,they will be arrested by the partitionsandtime thereby given for more thorough separation.

During operation the Waste-overflow and the concentrate -outlet may beconstantly open or open at intervals, as maybe required, and both aremade regulable, as also is the speed of the stirring devices and theamount of water and ore supply. By these means the effect of current isreduced to a practical minimum, and abundant provision is made forthorough separation by gravity and flotation.

The apparatus is not only simple and economical in construction,butseparates the valuable sediment very thoroughly and with rapidity andeconomy.

Obviously the machine is capable of use with quicksilver or other meansof amalgamation, and all uses whatsoever which do not involve adeparture from the substantial principles of construction arecontemplated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an ore washerand separator, a tank having an overflow-opening and a lower discharge-opening, a water-supply vessel mounted on the tank and providedon its under side with pulp-stirring arms, and mechanism to rock thevessel and stir the pulp, part of said arms being hollow to convey waterfrom the vessel to near the bottom of the tank and having theirdischarge ends bent to project at all times toward theconcentrate-discharge end of the tank.

2. In an ore washer and separator, a tank having an overflow opening anda lower discharge-opening, a water-supply vessel mounted on the tank andprovided on its under side with pulp-stirring arms, and mechanism torock the vessel and stir the pulp, part of said arms being hollow toconvey water from the vessel to near the bottom of the tank, said armshaving their discharge ends reduced in sizeand bent to project at alltimes toward the concentrate-discharge end of the tank.

3. In an ore washer and separator, a tank having an overflow-opening anda lower discharge-opening,a water-supply vessel mounted on the tank andprovided on its under side with pulp-stirring arms, and mechanism torock the vessel and stir the pulp, part of said arms being hollow toconvey Water from the vessel to near the bottom of the tank and havingtheir dischage ends bent toward the concentrate-discharge end of thetank, and partitions extending from the top of the tank to a level belowthe overflow-opening.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ETHAN W. EATON.

Witnesses:

MICHAEL OooNEY, ESTEVAN BACA.

